‘Well, I—’
He didn’t wait for her to finish. ‘I didn’t even know he’d been invited to the actual wedding. I don’t remember inviting him.’
‘I did that,’ put in Sheri. ‘He was at Ben’s party last week and I—I thought it only polite to ask him. After all, you are going to be working for him when we get back from the honeymoon and I—’ she trailed off, looking appealingly at her new husband. ‘I’m sorry, James.’
The scowl left his face. ‘Hey, no need to get upset, it’s all right.’ He gave her an encouraging smile. ‘I just wish I’d known, that’s all.’
Kate shrugged. ‘What difference would that have made? We would still have met.’
‘Met, yes. But I could have got Sheri’s brother to keep a better eye on you.’
Sheri gave a scoffing laugh. ‘You think Tony would be much protection against Damien?’
‘Well … perhaps not,’ he allowed.
‘Definitely not,’ she corrected. ‘I’ve seen Damien in action and my kid brother wouldn’t stand a chance. Damien’s arrogance would frighten the life out of him.’
‘Mm,’ Kate agreed. ‘Even your mother was slightly overawed, James.’
‘Oh, lord!’ he looked worried. ‘She spoke to you, then?’
‘Oh yes. Still, it wasn’t too bad,’ she lied. ‘I only came up here to say my goodbyes. I don’t want to keep you.’
‘You aren’t keeping us—and stop trying to change the subject. My mother was very objectionable, I can tell that at a glance.’
‘She was,’ Kate agreed. ‘But she didn’t give us away, actually she just made things sound worse than they are.’
‘And where’s Damien now?’
‘He’s downstairs, waiting to take me home.’
‘You aren’t going home with him!’ James exclaimed, outraged. ‘Look what happened the last time you were alone with him.’
‘Nearly happened, James.’
‘Okay, nearly happened. God, I deliberately didn’t tell him where you were living now, and he just calmly turns up here and walks off with you. You aren’t strong enough to refuse his brand of seduction, and you certainly aren’t going home with him.’
‘James!’ His wife looked shocked. ‘Kate’s an adult, and you can’t tell her who she can or can’t meet.’
Kate sighed, ‘He’s always done it.’
‘Then it’s high time he stopped. You can’t rule her life for ever, James. Kate has to find out for herself about the wolves of this world, like I did. The only trouble is that I’m married to one,’ she finished teasingly.
James laughed. ‘Since meeting you I’m a reformed character.’
‘So maybe our Kate will reform Damien, who knows?’
‘I do,’ he said firmly. ‘Damien’s untamable.’
‘James, you said you deliberately didn’t tell him where I was living,’ Kate said slowly. ‘Did he ask?’
He nodded. ‘A couple of times. I refused to tell him.’
It seemed to Kate quite a break-through for someone who said they never chased women. And it was a break-through she wanted to follow up. ‘Well, he’s going to find out now, because he wants to take me home, and I want him to.’
‘But you can’t—’
‘I can, James,’ she declared firmly. ‘And I’m going to.’ She moved towards the door. ‘I’ll leave you two to finish getting ready. You can’t keep your guests waiting much longer.’
‘Kate, you—’
‘That’s fine,’ Sheri cut in, giving Kate a glowing smile. ‘And while we’re on our honeymoon I’ll try and convince this handsome hunk of a brother of yours that you’re a big girl now.’
‘I know she’s a big girl now, that’s why I’m worried. And don’t try telling me she can take care of herself because I know for a fact that she can’t, not where Damien’s concerned anyway—can you, Kate?’
She felt her cheeks suffuse with colour. ‘It’s not for want of trying.’
‘I know that, love,’ he said gently. ‘So you’ll be careful?’
‘If I can’t be good, hmm?’ she joked.
Now it was his turn to look uncomfortable. ‘Now you know I didn’t mean that—yes, I did! You be damned careful.’
‘I’m sure to remember to be that, James. How can I be anything else when I think of my own entrance into the world? I wouldn’t wish illegitimacy on anyone. Now I’m not going to discuss Damien with you any more,’ she smiled brightly. ‘I only came to say my goodbyes, and I’ve said them already.’
‘I’ll see you to the door.’ James slipped on his jacket.
Actually he came out into the corridor with her, looking down at her searchingly. Kate tried her best to look happy, but in truth she felt tearful again. James was all the family she had and she was going to miss him during the next few weeks.
She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. ‘Take care, James. And be happy.’
‘Thanks, Kate,’ he said gruffly. ‘And please be careful of Damien. I don’t want to come back and find you’ve become his latest woman.’
She laughed huskily. ‘Do you think that’s likely?’
‘I think it’s very likely when I’m not here to look after you.’
‘I’ll try to behave until you get back.’
‘I wish there were some way I could—well, that I could—’
Kate shook her head. ‘There’s no way you can go on honeymoon with Sheri and stay here with me. I’ll still be here when you get back.’
‘But things will never be the same. I’ve realised the last few weeks just how much I’m going to miss you, you’ve lived with me for so long now I got used to your being around.’
‘And it showed,’ she told him dryly. ‘You were really beginning to take me for granted, James—admit it.’
‘I suppose I was. But I—I liked having you about.’
‘I’ll still be about, just living in my own flat. You can visit me often.’
‘Mm, I will. In fact, I’ll be over to see you the day we get back. I’ll call you this evening when we reach Venice.’
Kate looked at him sharply. ‘What’s that for? To let me know you’ve arrived safely, or to check that I’m at home alone?’
‘Both,’ he answered without hesitation.
She had to laugh at his honesty. ‘I’ll see you when you get back. Have fun!’ She reached up and kissed
